BEADS

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An Accomplished Lineage from James Bay

1. MEEGIS [John?]. Born c. 1760?; likely Indigenous; name Meegis might have been the Ojibwe, Migiss, translating to ‘wampum/ porcelain bead/ pearl’, but might also have been the Cree, Mekis — ‘a bead’ — which was the nickname of one of the “Cree leaders [okimaw] trading at Albany” c. 1759 (currently Oji-Cree translate Meekis as ‘Shell’); possibly the John BEADS, “labourer, no parish” listed 1819 “Names of Company Servants 1819 (1818-1819)”?; any number of siblings, children, or later descendants may have opted to retain MEEGIS/ MEEKIS/ MIGISS/ MEKIS as a surname, rather than adopting BEADS [incidentally, a Chief Mekis, of Wasaquesing (Sandy Island ON), afterwards signed the Robison Huron treaty 1850].

+ Unidentified woman.

?2. BEADS/ BOADS, Charles. Born c. 1787[?]; described as “one of our faithful natives” [judged to be ‘mixed ancestry‘ in one study] of parish identified as “Hudson’s Bay”; Steersman, Guide 1804–1830 HBC Moose Factory; employed 1815–1820 around Kenogomissi / Matawegummi post [see Parks Canada report]; “on 16 November 1813, Richard Good reported that Charles Beads, a young native servant, should have been sled-making that day, but had done ‘little or nothing.’ He had skulked off after some Indians who had traded there that day in order to share their rum. Good had discovered them all together a half a mile from the house and threatened to fine Beads, who remained unmoved and retorted that Good ‘might make it Fivety Shillings.’ Although Good had not previously noted any misbehaviour on Beads’s part, he now mentioned that this was not the first time that Beads had ‘been guilty of the like reprehensible Conduct and Reproofs has no avail with him’ and recommended that he ‘be Mulct in part of his wages'” [Edith Burley, “Work, Discipline, and Conflict in the Hudson’s Bay Company, 1770-1879,” PhD thesis]; listed 1819 “Names of Company Servants 1819 (1818–1819)” with parish as Hudson’s Bay and described as “a careful excellent canoe man either as bowsman or steersman, is a good traveller and an obedient Servant but is much addicted to drinking Spiritous Liquors”; “built a ‘small House'” 1822 “with the help of two fellow mixed-ancestry men (George Moore and Thomas Richards)” [Moose Factory?]; listed 1823–1824 as “halfbreed, an excellent canoe man & winter traveller”; described 9 January 1853 Moose Factory as “an old man … who a few days previously had arrived from Abbitibbe with a packet” [Rev. J. Horden, “Visitation of the Sick,” Church Missionary Gleaner (1853), 117] and who needed teaching that there was sin in drinking.

+ LAWSON, Eleanor.

3. BEADS, Charlotte. Baptized 22 March 1818 March.

3. BEADS, Margaret. Died 25 December 1822; buried 27 December 1822.

?2. BEADS, John ‘Sr.’. Born 1790/ 1795 ‘Rupert’s Land’; entered service 1814 HBC; HBC career; employed 1815–1820 around Kenogomissi / Matawegummi post; Steersman, listed 1819 “Names of Company Servants 1819 (1818–1819)” with parish as Hudson’s Bay; Steersman 1821–1832 Albany District; in charge 1832–1833  Cedar Lake; Steersman 1833–1838 Albany District; retired 1838 to Red River; Boat builder & Guide 1846–1851 Swan River District; Carpenter 1851–1854 Lac La Pluie; freeman 1854-1855 Red River; carpenter Lac La Pluie; freeman 1856–1863 Red River.

+ Margaret. Born c. 1800; 9 children; died 23 December 1856.

?3. BEADS, Charles. Born c. 1822; baptized (adult) 23 November 1838; died c. 1844; buried 25 March 1845? Grand Rapids/ St. Andrews, Red River.

?3. BEADS, John ‘Jr.’. Born 1820/ 1824; baptized (adult) 23 November 1838; 1st married 6 February 1845 Grand Rapids/ 12 November 1850 St. Andrew’s Red River; HBC career; assigned 1853–1854 to Dr. John RAE Arctic expedition, described as “Character very indifferent, very careless, and his veracity [not] to be much relied upon” (signed “John Rae, 1 September 1854”); received £260 as part of Government Reward for ascertaining John Franklin‘s fate; 2d married 17 January 1855; died c. 7 January/ 9 March 1859.

+ ROBILLARD/ ROBILLIARD/ ROBELAIR/ ROBECLAIR, Catherine. Born c. 1830; 2 children; died 27 February 1853.

4. BEADS, Mary Anne. Baptized 23 August 1846 Red River.

4. BEADS, John/ James. Born c. 1850; baptized 12 November 1850 Red River; married 28 December 1873 Fort Ellice; resided 1870 Westbourne MB; scrip affidavit 1878; labourer, resided 1878 North West Terr; scrip index.

+ BREMNER, Elizabeth ‘Eliza’ ‘Alissa’. Born c. 1852 to William BREMNER and Mary/ Marie FOURNIER?/ GARIEPY?/ HOGUE?; scrip affidavit 1878; resided 1878 North West Terr.; resided 1900 Prince Albert; attested 1900 “my husband is living but at present in Yorkton”; scrip index.

5. BEADS, John James. Born 10 December 1874 Fort Pelly; resided 1900 Sandy Lake; scrip claim 1900; scrip index.

5. BEADS, Harriet/ Harriett Jane. Born 25 November 1877 Lily Plain; baptized 3 January 1878 St. Mary’s Church, Prince Albert; resided 1900 Sandy Lake; scrip claim 1900.

+ ISBISTER, James.

5. BEADS, Thomas. Born 7 December 1879 Lily Plain; baptized 1 January 1880 St. Mary’s Church, Prince Albert [SK]; resided 1900 Prince Albert [SK]; scrip claim 1900; scrip index.

5. BEADS/ BEED, William Charles ‘Alfred’. Born 27 July 1883 Lily Plain; baptized 26 August 1883 St. Marys Church, Prince Albert [SK]; resided 1900 Prince Albert [SK]; scrip claim 1900; scrip index; 1st married 1906; died before 1970.

+ ISBISTER, Mary Helen ‘Ellen’. Born 1886 to George Barnston ISBISTER (born c. 1855 to John Alexander ISBISTER and Fanny SUTHERLAND-SINCLAIR) and Mary Jane ANDERSON (born to James Francis ANDERSON and Fanny GILL); died 1972.

6. BEADS/ BEED, Florence H. Born 24 February 1909 “on the family farm near Mont Nebo”; married 1933; died 11 June 2010.

+ HENDERSON, Alick.

+ HALCROW/ HALCRO, Maria Florence. Born 1884; died c. 1934.

5. BEADS, Frederick. Born October 1885 Touchwood Hills; baptized 20 October 1885 St. Luke’s Church, Gordon’s Reserve; died 1886, age 5 mos.; buried 5 April 1886 St. Luke’s Church, Gordon’s Reserve, Touchwood Hills; mother’s scrip claim 1900; scrip index.

+ BIRD, Mary. widowed c. 7 January 1859 (letters of administration granted).

4. BEADS, Ann ‘Nancy’.

3. BEADS, Margaret. Baptized (adult) 23 November 1838.

3. BEADS, Jacob. Born 1826/ 1830/ 1837 [MB]; joined HBC age 15; apprentice carpenter, posted Moose Factory; HBC career; 1846-1849 Middleman, Bowsman (boat brigade tripman/ voyageur), Swan River District; assigned 1853-1854 to Dr. John RAE Arctic expedition, described as “A very handy man and active when he choses [sic] but extremely careless” (signed “1 September l854, John Rae”); “received £260 as part of Government Reward for ascertaining John Franklin‘s fate”; carpenter, posted Fort Pelly; travelled 1855 to Red River; married 12 April 1855; 1855–1857 Steersman, Swan River District; left service 1859; carpenter, Red River; rehired 1862 to build Fort Ellice (finished 1867); with spouse, listed 1870 St. James MB census; moved 1871 to White Mud River Settlement; resided next door to  brother Thomas; sold White Mud property to Brother-in-law Alan/ Allan McIVOR; employed by HBC 1876 Fort Ellice; donated the land for the St. Mary’s Cemetery, Prince Albert; retired to Fort Pelly; farmer, with spouse, listed 1891 Prince Albert, North West Territory, Canada census; died 1896 Fort Pelly; credited by Saskatchewan Times (6 April 1894) with establishing Prince Albert community grist mill “and giving a substantial donation of land to the Anglican church, on which they established Emmanuel College”; memorial printed Saskatchewan History, vol. 7, no. 1 (winter 1954).

+ FLETT dit L’ADHIMAS/ L’ADHIMAR/ L’ADEAMAH/ LADEMAR/ ADHEMAR/ ADAMER/ ADMAR, Charlotte. Born c. 1835/ 8 May 1840/ 1842 to Patrick FLETT dit L’ADEMAH and an unidentified woman; ‘six children’; 3 sons employed HBC; with spouse, listed 1870 St. James MB census; with spouse, listed 1891 Prince Albert, North West Territory, Canada census; widowed, resided 1900 Colliston; with daughter Maggie STARMER’s household, listed 1901 Territories, Canada census; scrip index.

4. BEADS, Mary Ann. Born c. 1860 Winnipeg, Red River; baptized 3 April 1859; “I was living at Silver Heights Manitoba with my parents on the 15th July 1870 — we removed into the Territories in 1872”; married 1875 Prince Albert [SK]; by 1885, 4 children (2 deceased); resided 1885 Fort à la Corne [SK]; scrip declaration 1885.

+ TURNER, Peter. Born 20 July 1853 Fort à la Corne/ Nitawihkicikanis/ ‘Little garden’ [SK], to Joseph TURNOR/ TURNER ‘Jr.’ and Sarah Susan HUMPHREYVILLE/ UMPHREVILLE/ HUMPHREVILLE/ HOMFREVILLE [see TURNOR/ TURNER and UMFREVILLE pages]; labourer, farmer, resided 1885 Fort a la Corne/ Prince Albert [SK]; scrip declaration 1885.

5. TURNER, [children]. [See TURNOR/ TURNER page.]

4. BEADS, James. Born 27 April 1857 Fort Pelly/ c. 1858; with parents, listed 1870 St. James MB census; died “unmarried and intestate” 16 June 1884; widowed mother’s scrip claim 1900.

4. BEADS, William. Born 1860/ 1863; with parents, listed 1870 St. James MB census; next to parents? listed 1891 Prince Albert, North West Territory, Canada census.

4. BEADS, Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’. Born c. 1862; with parents, listed 1870 St. James MB census.

+ LETELLIER, Joseph Stephane. Born ‘French Canadian’; resided 1900 John Smith’s Reserve.

5. LETELLIER, Jacob Joseph. Born 27 December 1884 Forks of Saskatchewan; died 28 December 1884 Forks of the Saskatchewan river; buried 2 January 1885 Forks of the Saskatchewan; father’s scrip claim 1900.

4. BEADS, Margaret/ Marguerite. Born c. 1864; with parents, listed 1870 St. James MB census.

4. BEADS, Maggie. Born 24 April 1870/ 1871 Fort Pelly; with parents, listed 1891 Prince Albert, North West Territory, Canada census; resided 1900 Colliston/ Colleston [SK]; scrip claim 1900; with spouse, listed 1901 Territories, Canada census.

+ STARMER/ ‘NARMER’, William A. Born 31 December 1862; with spouse, listed 1901 Territories, Canada census.

3. BEADS, Elizabeth ‘Betsy’/ Isabella. Born 1836 Lac Seul, ‘Rupert’s Land’; baptized 23 November 1838; married 5 June 1848 The Rapids Church/ St. Andrew’s, Red River; “resided Red River but for many years at Portage la Prairie & had 6 children 2 sons and 4 dgtr”.

+ McIVOR/ McIVER, Allan/ Alan/ ‘Adam’. Born 8 May 1815 Howie, Scotland, to Donald McIVER and Catherine[?]; HBC service; of Beaver Creek.

4. McIVOR/ McIVER, Catherine. Born 1852 Fort Pelly.

4. McIVOR/ McIVER, Mary Margaret. Born 4 May 1853 Fort Pelly.

+ DANIEL, John. Born 25 August 1847 St. Andrew’s, Red River, to William DANIEL and Margaret LINKLATER.

5. DANIEL, ELizabeth. Born 1869 Red River.

4. McIVOR/ McIVER, Donald. Born 1854/ 1856 Fort Pelly; ‘eldest son’; scrip application 1886 names mother as Isabella, and at one point in the correspondence father is named as Adam, not Allan/ Alan; “absent from Manitoba since 1875 or 6”.

+ CARDINAL, Angelique ‘Angele’. Born c. 1865 Edmonton/ St. Albert [AB] to Andre CARDINAL and Rosalie BRELAND; resided 1901 Russell MB.

5. McIVOR, Daniel. Born July 1874 Prince Albert [SK]; resided 1901 St. Eustache MB; scrip claim 1901.

5. McIVOR, Dolphis. Born 22 March 1885 Shell River ‘north of Russell’; died August 1887 Birtle MB; mother’s scrip claim 1901.

5. McIVOR, Patrice. Born c. 1886.

5. McIVOR, Richard. Born c. 1890.

5. McIVOR, Lizzie. Born c. 1893.

5. McIVOR, Arthur George. Born c. 1895.

4. McIVOR/ McIVER, Elizabeth. Born 1862 Portage la Prairie [MB].

+ WHITFORD, William. Born to James WHITFORD and Mary.

5. WHITFORD, Ellen. Born c. 1881 “a mile or two from Russell” MB; baptized 1 October 1881; resided Russell MB; married November 1899; moved November 1899 to Greenwood BC; resided 1901 Greenwood BC.

+ MEIKLE, John Lorne.

5. WHITFORD, William James. Born October 1882; scrip claim 1901; scrip attestation 1901 for sister; resided 1901 Russell MB.

?+ CLEE.

4. McIVOR/ McIVER, John. Born 1864 Portage la Prairie [MB].

4. McIVOR/ McIVER, Christie B. Born 1867 Portage la Prairie [MB].

3. BEADS/ BEEDS, Mary. Born c. 1837; baptized 23 November 1838; married 3 August 1862 St. Mary’s la Prairie, Portage la Prairie; attested in 1885 “I left the Province of Manitoba to go to Victoria N.W.T. about 20 years ago and resided there for 10 years, then at Prince Albert 4 years, Battleford 2 years, and the last two years I have been residing at this place [Fort Macleod]”; scrip declaration 1885; resided 1885 Fort Macleod; scrip index.

+ WHITFORD, Magnus. Baptized 19 July 1831 St. John’s, Red River, to Peter WHITFORD/ WHITEFORD and Christiana ‘Christie’ SPENCE [see WHITFORD page]; previously 1st married 11 February 1854 St. Andrew’s, Red River, to Sarah SPENCE; farmer 1885.

4. WHITFORD, [children]. [See WHITFORD page.]

3. BEADS, James. Baptized 23 November 1838; HBC service; Outdoor servant 1855–1857 Lachine House; member 1857-1858 John Palliser expedition.

+ Elizabeth.

4. BEADS, Richard. Baptized 24 July 1853.

3. BEADS, Thomas. Born c. 1843 St. Andrew’s, Red River; baptized 31 March 1840; HBC career; Midman 1860–1863 Swan River; Carpenter 1863–1867 Swan River; said to have married 1860 St. Peter’s, Red River/ 1864 Fort Ellice; hired for position of Postmaster 1863; Carpenter 1867–1870 Red River; resided 1870 St. Francois Xavier MB “but my home proper was at Westbourne, Man., at that time”; a Thomas BEADS was said to have died 10 March 1870 “on a journey from Waswanipi to Migiskan … of a stomach complaint that had attacked him the previous April … This is a severe loss to his poor lame son and widow who I fear is left in a state of great destitution (sic) may Good (sic) be their help & comfort under their severe bereavement” (Waswanipi Post Journal); but this Thomas BEADS resided 1885 Prince Albert [SK]; scrip declaration 1885; and died c. 1889 according to William Charles McKAY.

+ WILLS/ WELLS, Henriette/ Harriet. Born to John WILLS/ WELLS ‘Jr.’ [grandson of Cuthbert GRANT ‘Sr.’] and Mary McKAY [see MacKAY/ McKAY page].

4. BEADS, Priscilla Jane. Born c. 1865; widowed by 1900.

+ ANDERSON/ HENDERSON, William.

5. HENDERSON, Mary Helena. Born 18 April 1883 ‘between Qu’Appelle and Prince Albert’; baptized 17 June 1884 St. Vital Mission, Battleford; resided 1900 Battleford; scrip claim 1900.

4. BEADS, Madeleine/ Magdeline. Born 1868 Pembina; “I was one year of age when I left Pembina with my parents … to Winnipeg and I lived in that Province until 10 years ago. Since that time I have been living at Prince Albert and Fort à la Corne”; married winter 1885; resided 1885 Fort à la Corne, Prince Albert [SK]; scrip declaration 1885.

+ SAYIS/ SAHYIS/ SEYES/ SAHYES/ SAYESE, Baptiste ‘Jr.’.

5. SEYES/ SAHYES/ SAYESE, Harriett. Born 5 December 1885 Pahoman/ Fort a la Corne; baptized 22 December 1885; resided 1900 Fort la Corne; scrip claim 1900.

4. BEADS, Jean/ John. Born 26 March 1870; baptized 6 April 1870 St. Francois Xavier, Red River.

4. BEADS, Mary Maria. Born c. 1874; resided 1900 South Branch; scrip claim on behalf of sister 1900.

+ BEAR, Joseph.

4. BEADS, Jacob. Born twin September 1876 Prince Albert; baptized 1 October 1876 St. Mary’s, Prince Albert [SK]; orphaned, raised by Harriet Ann McKAY and husband John Dugall/ Dugald McKAY [see MacKAY/ McKAY page]; with McKAY houshold, listed 1891 SK, North West Territories, Canada census; resided 1900 Prince Albert; [SK] scrip claim 1900; scrip index.

4. BEADS, William ‘Willie’. Born twin September 1876 Prince Albert [SK]; orphaned, raised by Harriet Ann McKAY and husband John Dugall/ Dugald McKAY [see MacKAY/ McKAY page]; with McKAY houshold, listed 1891 Saskatchewan, North West Territories, Canada census; resided 1900 Carrot River [SK]; scrip claim 1900;  scrip index.

4. BEADS, Margaret/ Ann Flora. Born September 1879 Prince Albert; died March 1880 Prince Albert; buried 29 March 1880; sister Mary Maria’s scrip claim 1900.

3. BEADS, Catherine. Baptized 2 May 1843; buried 25 October 1843.

3. BEADS, Maria. Born c. August 1844; baptized 22 October 1844; died age 8 mos.; buried 7 April 1845 Grand Rapids/ St Andrew’s, Red River.

?2. BEADS, James. Born c. 1810; described as mixed ancestry 1826; 1826-27 District Report, Alexander Christie listed five “Apprentice Boys (Natives of the Country) who receive clothing and provisions”, including James Beads, John Brown, John Flett, Peter Saunders, and Philip Turner; Middleman 1826–1835 Moose Factory;

2. BEADS, Thomas J. Born 1811; HBC career; Middleman 1827–1833  Rupert River; Steersman 1833–1842 Rupert River; Interpreter 1842–1856  Rupert River; Guide 1856–1858 Rupert River.

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Various Unsorted Persons

BEADS, William. Born c. 1830; described as mixed ancestry 1849; guide 1849–1850, 1854–1860 HBC Moose Factory.

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?1. BEADS, Charlotte. Born c. 1813; with son’s/ nephew’s family? listed 1881 Abitibi, Eastern Rupert’s Land, The Territories, Canada census.

2. BEADS, William. Born c. 1831; with spouse, listed 1881 Abitibi, Eastern Rupert’s Land, The Territories, Canada census.

+ Theresa. Born c. 1833; with spouse, listed 1881 Abitibi, Eastern Rupert’s Land, The Territories, Canada census.

3. BEADS, William. Born c. 1856; with parents, listed 1881 Abitibi, Eastern Rupert’s Land, The Territories, Canada census.

3. BEADS, Pomella. Born c. 1859; with parents, listed 1881 Abitibi, Eastern Rupert’s Land, The Territories, Canada census.

3. BEADS, Helena. Born c. 1861; with parents, listed 1881 Abitibi, Eastern Rupert’s Land, The Territories, Canada census.

3. BEADS, Annie. Born c. 1863; with parents, listed 1881 Abitibi, Eastern Rupert’s Land, The Territories, Canada census.

3. BEADS, Charles. Born c. 1869; with parents, listed 1881 Abitibi, Eastern Rupert’s Land, The Territories, Canada census.

3. BEADS, Johny. Born c. 1873; with parents, listed 1881 Abitibi, Eastern Rupert’s Land, The Territories, Canada census.

3. BEADS, Joseph. Born c. 1879; with parents, listed 1881 Abitibi, Eastern Rupert’s Land, The Territories, Canada census.